The books we grew up with
Children’s books from the 1970s
Step back into the 1970s with this collection of classics. From the beloved adventures of Frog and Toad to the silly antics of Little Critter, you'll find stories that made a whole generation laugh. Whether you are looking for a familiar cover or choosing based on your child's current reading stage, there is plenty here to enjoy.
Pick a reading stage, then click a book for its profile. Covers may show later editions, and years refer to the original work. These New Vintage entries are historical selections, not hands-on reviews or timed reads.
Picture books & shared reading
For visual discovery, familiar read-alouds, and lap reading.
First published 1970Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?View book & parent notes →
First published 1972Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayView book & parent notes →
First published 1975Just for YouView book & parent notes →
First published 1977Just Me and My DadView book & parent notes →
First published 1974The Berenstain Bears' New BabyView book & parent notes →
First published 1978The Berenstain Bears Go to SchoolView book & parent notes →
First published 1974There's a Wocket in My Pocket!View book & parent notes →
First published 1975Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!View book & parent notes →
First published 1974Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That GoView book & parent notes →
First published 1974The Alphabet BookView book & parent notes →
First published 1976The Little DuckView book & parent notes →
First published 1977The Little LambView book & parent notes →
First published 1978The Truck BookView book & parent notes →
First published 1977Miss Nelson Is Missing!View book & parent notes →
Early readers & short stories
For sharing or taking turns; please note that not all of these are phonics-based decodable books.
First published 1970Frog and Toad Are FriendsView book & parent notes →
First published 1972Frog and Toad TogetherView book & parent notes →
First published 1978I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!View book & parent notes →
First published 1979Oh Say Can You Say?View book & parent notes →
First published 1973Big Dog... Little DogView book & parent notes →
First published 1971Freckle JuiceView book & parent notes →
For older children
Poetry, activities, and longer fiction. Check the parent notes before choosing these for a younger child.
First published 1974Where the Sidewalk EndsView book & parent notes →
First published 1976The Missing PieceView book & parent notes →
First published 1972Tales of a Fourth Grade NothingView book & parent notes →
First published 1972Otherwise Known as Sheila the GreatView book & parent notes →
First published 1973How to Eat Fried WormsView book & parent notes →
First published 1972Chocolate FeverView book & parent notes →
First published 1970The Trumpet of the SwanView book & parent notes →
First published 1972The Best Christmas Pageant EverView book & parent notes →
First published 1971Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHView book & parent notes →
First published 1978Sideways Stories from Wayside SchoolView book & parent notes →
How these books were chosen
These are curated selections of documented bestsellers grouped by reading stage and original decade. They are not a top 30 ranking or a claim of exact copies sold in that decade.
Read the sales and edition notes
Our bestseller evidence is based on a 2001 Publishers Weekly historical sales survey. This survey used publisher-supplied U.S. totals through 2000 (with some exceptions) and excludes international and book-club sales. We use inclusion in the survey as evidence rather than the specific figures to create new rankings.
The survey sometimes uses the date of a paperback or board-book rather than the original work; we check publication records separately. Because translations and editions vary by market, the linked record explains the date used. Note that later editions or covers might differ from the versions you remember.
Some books include historical portrayals, difficult themes, or dated attitudes; we flag these in the parent notes. Just because a book was popular decades ago doesn't mean it suits every child.